Being based in Manhattan, Newport is one of our favorite summer getaways because it feels like a true WASP-y beach escape while only being four hours from the city. We spend lots of time in Newport eating oysters, renting boats and hitting up great bars. Below, find our long weekend guide to Newport, Rhode Island.
Day One:
Midtown Oyster Bar: After arriving, we headed for our lunch reservation at Midtown Oyster Bar, a lively restaurant with a beautifully executed nautical theme that serves up amazing oysters and other fare. We love sitting on their roof on a nice day and getting loads of sharing plates for the table. We start with oysters but also loved some plates such as their lobster roll, which is $28, but next level and their fish tacos. Their cocktail list is also pretty expansive. Ina addition to the great food, the service is impeccable. Our waitress was a true connoisseur of every oyster they serve and really helped us directionally in terms of what we ordered.
Cliff Walk: I’ve never gone to Newport without doing their beautiful cliff walk. This 3.5 mile walk along the water shows off some of Newport’s most beautiful Victorian mansions and has great ocean views. Parts of the walk require you to scramble on giant rocks, so it’s not best to do with flip flops.
Dinner at Perro Salado: For dinner, head to this chic Mexican restaurant in a historic home in Newport for some flavorful fare and great margaritas. We found this one when reading Goop and it really didn’t disappoint. The sharing plates, like their guacamole and salsa were great, as were the empanadas and carne asada. We drank spicy margaritas all night.
Day Two:
Rent a Boat: We rented a catamaran for the day on the water and it was one of the most fun activities we’ve done. We reached out to Heron Luxury Charters, which in a funny coincidence I had chartered in the Hamptons a few years back, and we got a group together to sail around Newport while drinking rum punch.
We loved the setup on the catamaran, which has loads of white bean bags on the front to lounge around in. We brought snacks and drinks aboard and the crew was great about setting them up for us and serving them. We got some sun and jumped in the water to swim and paddle board. It was a great way to spend the day.
Gurney’s Newport: Like the Gurney’s in Montauk (You can see our Montauk & Hamptons Travel Guide here), this Gurney’s Hotel is impeccably done, with a chic nautical vibe, great outdoor set up and excellent music. After our boat dropped us off, we headed to Gurneys to sit outside on their patio and have cocktails and some small bites.
Gurney’s Newport is decidedly more laid back than its Hamptons outpost, but offers up a lot of the same vibes. We loved the string lights outside in the back and the great sitting areas and lawn games. After getting some shared plated, we headed to the corn hole games on the lawn with some spicy margs. We would highly recommend, and while we didn’t stay there, the rooms seemed pretty reasonably priced.
Clarke Cooke House: We loved the vibe and energy at Clarke Cooke House, a multi-story restaurant on Newport’s main marina surrounded by other great waterfront bars and restaurants. Seafood is the main attraction at Clarke Cooke House and their drinks (especially their martinis) are very generous pours. We had a large group, so I am pretty sure we sampled everything on the menu, such as the tuna steak and even the chowders. The meal was wonderful and the restaurant has a great New England oldtimey feel to it. After, head to one of their many bars for cocktails. Downstairs is a bit of a club — skip that and head upstairs for a more refined scene.
Day Three:
Brunch At Castle Hill Inn: Having brunch at Castle Hill has become somewhat of a tradition for me. I fell in love with this historic hotel years ago because of its charm and the way that it is appointed. It’s a Relais & Chateaux property, which is a true badge of luxury in the hospitality industry, and even just having a meal here will make it clear as to why it has that distinction.
Their lawn facing the water has dozens of white adirondack chairs throughout so that you can take your morning coffee or mimosa and watch the legions of sailboats drift by. It truly is meditative and just a total happy place for me. I make it a point to arrive about an hour in advance of my brunch reservation (you definitely should make a reservation) and head to the lawn where there is a great bar set up for a glass of rose and some people watching. Next, head to your table outside on the patio for some great food.
Some of our favorites are their lobster roll, which is expensive but great, and their omelettes are light and fluffy. I always indulge in their french fries, because duh. We can’t recommend brunch here highly enough.
In terms of what to wear in Newport, we refer you to our Hamptons Style Guide. The aesthetic is pretty similar in Newport, so you can mix and match!
Our Travel Guides:
Travel Guide: The Hamptons & Montauk
Travel Guide: The Perfect 24 Hours in Napa Valley
Travel Guide: Our Favorite Napa Valley Vineyards
Travel Guide: The Berkshires